Former goal scorer for the Russian national team, Dmitry Bulykin, shared his take on Spartak Moscow’s disappointing second part of the 2022/23 season in an interview with Vprognoze.ru. He pointed to the winter training camp as the turning point, arguing that Spartak looked impressive in the autumn part but faltered after the break. According to Bulykin, expectations were high that the team would challenge Zenit Saint Petersburg in the second half, yet the spring campaign arrived and Spartak appeared almost unrecognizable. He explained that the pre-season preparation did not go according to plan and the season’s second act failed to deliver, as reported by Vprognoze.ru. (via Vprognoze.ru)
As the season closed, Spartak stood in third place with 54 points. Zenit had already clinched the title ahead of schedule, while CSKA Moscow finished in second. In the final round, Spartak fought for runners-up honors but suffered a 0-1 defeat on the road to Krylya Sovetov Samara. The Red-Whites also could not defend the Russian Cup title from the previous season, as they were eliminated by Akron Togliatti in the Path of Regions semi-final second stage match. (via Vprognoze.ru)
Earlier in the season, then head coach Guillermo Abascal faced a lack of trust in striker Shamar Nicholson, signaling a shift in the team’s forward strategy and a broader assessment of squad balance. The combination of a promising autumn start, a difficult winter phase, and the subsequent decline after the break reflects broader patterns often seen in top clubs when preseason plans do not translate into sustained form. Analysts and fans alike weighed these elements against Spartak’s overall results and cup performances, highlighting the need for tactical adjustments and renewed commitment to competitive consistency in the following campaign. (via Vprognoze.ru)